Woolworths and Austral partnership???

[Fridgy Dave]

Is there any truth in the rumour that Woolworths and Austral are going to partner up for there service work much the same as City and Coles. I have heard this rumour off several people and wondered if there is any truth to it.

[750 Valve]

That rumour has been going around for a while, in a way it makes sense, in a way it doesn't

Hastie Group who owns Austral are on the ropes and have suspended trade numerous times, their shares have dropped even lower than Frigrites did. Austral has been for sale for a number of years now and that is no secret.

There have been a lot of rumours about a buyer for Austral - word has it an American company, at first everyone looked to Hill Phoenix, apparently that has been confirmed as a no go (just rumours though), Lennox (who own Heatcraft) are another possible purchaser with them also owning Kysor Warren and we all know the relationship between Austral and Kysor.

I also heard that WW are buying Austral - can't see that happening at all, if it did it would be an interesting scenario. Austral have won a LOT of Coles work at REALLY low prices.

Before all the poms get on carrying on about supermarkets screwing the world the Hastie situation has to do with a lot more than supermarkets - Hastie own a LOT of AC companies and one supermarket refrig compnay and one industrial refrig company. They have recently had some issues in Dubai with install contracts for Novotel hotel that went sour with the builder and they are bleeding hard.

At the end of the day the supermarkets still need service and install, the work is there for the techs, national companies are not as viable as they used to be and it may be the time for smaller state based companies to take over (the likes of Contract, Alliance, Sims, JAG, Coolphase, Nutech, etc). Its not all doom and gloom.

[HVACRsaurus]

Strewth 750, if that doesn't sum it up - it will do untill someone else can..

Good to hear your perspective on the situation, cheers! :D

[750 Valve]

Strewth 750, if that doesn't sum it up - it will do untill someone else can..

Good to hear your perspective on the situation, cheers! :D

At the end of the day the fridges need to be fixed by someone when they breakdown :D

[Fridgy Dave]

Thanks for your insight 750, with Mcalpine Hussmann fading away it should make things interesting.

[Magoo]

Wize words 750, it would not surprise me if WW bought into a service provider. That would be interesting. There market share dominance and dictating all and sundry.